DETROIT -- Ty Conklin set the standard for backup goaltenders last season, winning 25 games as the savior for the Detroit Red Wings when Chris Osgood was struggling.

Conklin is gone, signing with the St. Louis Blues in the offseason, but Red Wings coach Mike Babcock made it clear the expectations for the position have not changed. The club is counting on Jimmy Howard to make a tremendous transition to the NHL.

AP PhotoThe Buffalo Sabres' Derek Roy, right, scores on Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard in the third period of Saturday's preseason game. Howard was beaten by two deflected shots in the period.Howard welcomes the challenge.

“That’s definitely a goal I set for myself,’’ Howard said. “I want to pick up where Ty left off, and I think (25 wins) is going to be a good benchmark for me.’’

Howard wasn’t tested much during the first two periods of Saturday’s preseason game and appeared to be cruising toward a shutout. But the Buffalo Sabres beat him twice on deflected shots in a span of 2:21 midway through the third period en route to a 3-1 victory at Joe Louis Arena.

Derek Roy tied the game with a power-play goal at 9:05 of the third period, firing in a shot from the faceoff circle that deflected in off Nicklas Lidstrom’s stick. Thomas Vanek snapped the tie at 11:26, deflecting in a shot by Chris Butler while parked in front of Howard.

“I don’t know if you could fault him on either one,’’ Babcock said. “He made some good saves. It’s real hard to be the goalie when you’re playing across from a guy who’s standing on his head, getting shot after shot and you’re standing there freezing to death. I thought Howie did a good enough job, we just didn’t score enough goals.’’

Howard said the lack of shots against, compared to what he was facing in Grand Rapids (AHL), is the biggest adjustment he will have to make in the NHL.

“You have to remain focused, continue to watch the puck no matter where it is, and keep yourself ready for when they come,’’ Howard said.

Drafted 64th overall in 2003, Howard’s journey to the NHL has taken longer than many anticipated. The Red Wings spent four years developing him in Grand Rapids, where he had an outstanding first season but lacked consistency the past three years and has battled conditioning issues.

Howard has seen limited action with the Red Wings in three of the past four seasons (1-5, 2.76 goals-against average), getting recalled on a few occasions as an injury replacement. Now he’s determined to show what he can do with a steady job.

“I’m trying to think in my mind that the position still is not locked up,’’ Howard said. “I feel like I have to continue to keep going out there and proving myself. The more I play well, the more I’m going to get to play in the regular season.’’

Franzen opened the scoring at 4:55 of the second period, taking a cross-ice pass from Pavel Datsyuk and firing the puck into the open side of the net. Franzen had nine shots, as his line, with Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom, dominated the game.

“Usually happens when Pav is out there, try to get open and he will find you,’’ Franzen said. “I think I should have scored four or five goals tonight. I guess I’m saving them for later.’’

Tomas Tatar, making his NHL preseason debut, and Francis Pare each posted a minus-2 rating, but Babcock liked what he saw from both.